Therapy Tips
It's important that you start therapy as soon as you can. It helps the brain to relearn skills lost due to the damage caused.
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Setting goals is essential. It not only gives you things to work towards, but it also helps you mentally. Try to be realistic when setting goals; it's worth discussing these with your therapists.
Below are some tips for therapy techniques and advice for rehab therapists.
“You don’t have to be perfect to achieve your dreams.”
Katy Perry
Take a Break
My concentration span is about the same as that of a goldfish. I will do one activity for an hour, have a short break and do something different. Even if you have a good concentration span, I suggest changing what you do so you don't get bored. I'll split my day between physiotherapy and occupational therapy, interspersed with half an hour to eat lunch and watch TV. The important thing is not to lose motivation.​
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Don't have a set routine each day. You don't want to feel like you're back at school with a daily timetable. You can always incorporate therapy into your routine, even if it's just going to the supermarket or out for lunch.​​ Make sure you rest and listen to your body. I'm guilty of this and have previously learned the hard way. I didn't research a day out properly and walked too far, resulting in a bruised thigh and ego!
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Therapy doesn't have to be traditional.
Use your hobbies. I enjoy tie-dyeing; it is suitable for things like ataxia, as you have to practise manipulating your fingers and grip. For an outdoor activity, I enjoy doing dog agility with Rosie (even though we are completely useless)!​
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Sports can also help. The gym is perfect for cardio and endurance; Pilates and yoga help work towards rebuilding core strength and improving balance. Think of more unique things such as mini golf, bowling or darts! Do be careful if you attempt the latter!
​Board and card games are good from a cognitive perspective and hand manipulation. I have been using Monopoly, Cluedo, Jenga, and Connect Four. Ideas for card games are Snap, Go Fish, Cheat or Blackjack. Even the simplest can help. If you have a dark sense of humour, Cards Against Humanity is great fun (and was an eye-opener for a few of the nurses when I was in rehab).
​If you enjoy gaming, it works well as an alternative form of therapy. I have a Nintendo Switch and play Nintendo Sports, Mario Kart and Mario Party. These games require using your hands and working on your standing balance. Nintendo Sports mainly works well for this as there are lots of different sports, such as bowling and golf, that require you to recreate the movement as though you were playing them for real
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For Therapists
I created this page for medical professionals to gain some insight into recovery from the point of view of a stroke survivor. I am fortunate to have had the help of a wonderful therapy team. The support of my family and a determined personality have played a large part in my recovery, but I would not have come as far as I have without their help. I have found working within the following areas a huge benefit.
“Action is the foundational key to all success.”
Pablo Picasso
Lifestyle and goals.
I believe that a person's lifestyle can influence their overall aim of recovery, such as returning to work. Lifestyle can also play a massive part in setting goals during the recovery journey. After I arrived at rehab and had an initial chat with the therapy team, it was suggested that a good idea would be to set short-, medium--, and long-term goals. I chose to have what I called "super" long-term goals to try and achieve after I got home. Using this method gave me things to focus on during a long stint in rehab, and I still use goal setting now. I had short-term goals within a few weeks, medium-term within a couple of months, and long-term goals by the time I let rehab. I started with the basics of holding a ball in my weak hand, moved to picking up a wooden block, and finally trying to tie shoelaces and get dressed by myself. Once home, the goals of a survivor can be changed to suit daily life. After a lot of practice, I can now use a trolley in the supermarket.
Personality and emotions
If you only get a short time in a therapy session, try to learn your patient's personality. I felt more like myself; I could make rehab seem less clinical and as though I was getting some form of everyday life back, even though I was starting a very long and daunting road. Understanding a survivor's personality allows you to determine the best way to motivate them in their rehab journey.
Whilst it is a professional relationship, some form of emotional support helps. I struggled to accept the reality of how long and complicated the process is. All my therapists have taught me how to try and balance my ambition with reality. I wasn't aware how big the psychological struggle was going to be, so the first few times I did everyday tasks were eye-opening. If you can go through household chores (cooking, laundry), community activities (shopping, visiting a café), and even trying to cross the road, it will give a huge confidence boost to your patient.
When it comes to emotional support, mental health is a huge part of recovery and one I didn't expect. I don't like the phrase "new life, new you", but it fits when related to mental health. A survivor has been through a life-changing experience, and whilst they are still the same person, their daily life is going to change in multiple ways. As I have said, my therapists were terrific, but because I was so busy during my four months in rehab, and if I wasn't busy, I was resting, the mental health side didn't immediately materialise. It was only after a couple of months that reality properly set in. I've started seeing a psychologist who is helping me cope with the negative effects, which for me have been everything from depression to frustration and anger. Once you become aware of your patient's personality and goals, it could be worth suggesting help to manage the emotional side of recovery.
Communication
Depending on the survivor's level of cognition, talking about the aims for recovery and their ongoing progress is crucial. For me, the biggest thing was feeling as normal as I could. Communication with family members (if possible) can really benefit recovery. My family visited rehab and occasionally participated in a therapy session. My physiotherapist wanted to show them how to help me walk, and my speech therapist found FaceTime calls enormously beneficial when I was learning to speak during trach weaning.
Finally, therapy is an invaluable part of recovery. From a survivor, thank you for all you do.